Community News

SILVER CITY, NM—The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents held a special meeting December 20, 2024 for the purpose of discussing the contract of university President Dr. Joseph Shepard.

In the public portion of the meeting, Shepard read from a prepared statement announcing that he will be stepping away from his role as president on January 15, 2025.

Shepard noted that media coverage of the university, centered on its handling of financial matters, has proved a distraction from the significant accomplishments WNMU has achieved under his 13-year leadership. His decision to step away from the presidency, he said, was in the best interest of the university’s students and faculty, who could proceed to focus on academic excellence without distraction.

Silver City, NM — Silver Consolidated Schools is pleased to announce that the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) has approved the district's standards-based request for the complete replacement of Cliff Combined School. This long-awaited and anxiously anticipated decision addresses significant facility challenges while advancing our commitment to creating a safer, more efficient learning environment for students and staff.

The current Cliff Combined School campus consists of nine buildings. These aging structures have surpassed their functional lifespan. Due to prohibitive renovation costs, the campus layout — characterized by scattered buildings and excessive, underutilized space caused by declining enrollment — cannot be efficiently modernized. The spread-out design also creates unavoidable security risks.

Western New Mexico University celebrated fall commencement, with 387 students earning degrees or certificates, December 13, 2024SILVER CITY, NM – This fall, 387 students earned degrees or certificates from Western New Mexico University, and the Mustang community celebrated their achievement through a hybrid commencement ceremony that allowed for the participation of both graduates on campus and those living and attending WNMU at a distance. Of the graduates who received diplomas from WNMU this fall, 213 chose to participate in this year's fall graduation ceremony on December 13, 2024, with 165 walking across the Fine Arts Center Theatre stage and 48 participating over Zoom.

Silver City, NM – On Wednesday, December 4th, the Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) Auxiliary President Linda Fisher, Auxiliary Member Annette Pena, and Cancer Center Manager, Mike Torres, received a generous donation from Harrison Schmitt Elementary School. The students at Harrison Schmitt Elementary are divided into houses and each house was tasked with a creating a project. The Altruismo house created a fundraising program called "Pennies from Heaven" to support cancer patients.

Morning Star Sports will hold 12 Days of Christmas Shopping Specials, Dec. 12-24, 2024.  Each day a different brand will be be 20 percent  or more off regular price. See details in riddle form below:

Our annual 4-H Posole fundraiser is BACK! Stop by the extension office and get yours while supplies last!

Also thank you to 2025 4-H Council President Elect Chris Bennet and 2025 4-H Council V.P Elect Bella Lopez for making the commercial for the radio station 102.9!

See flyer below

SILVER CITY, NM—This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the WNMU Student Symposium, which was held Wednesday, December 4 and Thursday, December 5, 2024. The symposium, which provides a showcase for student academic and creative achievement, took place in the J. Cloyd Miller Library.

Occurring in conjunction with the symposium was a Career Expo that brought to campus a number of area employers. Students had an opportunity to learn about working for the various employers and about openings available.

 Father Christmas will be on hand to hear the holiday wishes of all good girls and boys at the Silver City Museum's 40th Annual Victorian Christmas and More celebrationSilver City -- It's that magical time of year once again, when the Silver City Museum celebrates the holidays with the 40th Victorian Christmas and More event on Saturday, December 14, from 11 am to 3:30 pm in the museum courtyard. Holiday revelers will enjoy a variety of free family activities and live entertainment throughout the day, and several local vendors will be on site, offering a wide selection of locally made and handcrafted items for sale, just in time for holiday gift-giving.

"We are so happy once again to be hosting one of the region's most popular holiday events," said Museum Director Bart Roselli. "Victorian Christmas and More has been a Silver City tradition for forty years now, and our goal is to offer a mix of the many ways in which we as a community celebrate this season."